Kentucky Football is expected to hire Cal defensive backs coach Allen Brown as its next cornerbacks coach, according to Matt Zenitz and Brandon Marcello of CBS Sports, continuing the Wildcats’ busy offseason reshaping of the defensive staff.
Brown most recently returned to California in January 2025 as the Golden Bears’ defensive backs coach, following a one-year stop at Washington State coaching cornerbacks. His impact was immediate at Cal, where the Bears ranked seventh nationally in fewest touchdown
passes allowed this past season (10), a key metric in today’s pass-heavy college football landscape.
Before his most recent stint in Berkeley, Brown served as a defensive analyst at Florida in 2023 and previously worked at Washington State, Eastern Washington, and Cal Poly. He also spent the 2022 season at Cal as a defensive quality control coach, making his return to the program a familiar one before Kentucky came calling.
Across five coaching stops, Brown has built a strong resume as a developer of talent in the secondary. He has coached nine all-conference defensive backs, produced two Freshman All-Americans, two All-Americans, and helped develop one NFL Draft pick, earning a reputation as a detail-oriented technician with a strong eye for player development.
A native of Tacoma, Washington, Brown graduated from Eastern Washington in 2014 and has steadily climbed the coaching ranks since. If finalized, his hire would add another proven recruiter and developer to Kentucky’s defensive staff as the Wildcats look to strengthen their secondary in the SEC.
